Man arrested in Garden Home car prowls

GARDEN HOME -- A suspect accused of breaking into three vehicles in the Garden Home area early Friday morning was arrested about an hour later when Washington County sheriff's deputies found him hiding in a thicket of blackberry bushes.

Carlos Daniel Favela Martinez, 20, of Northeast Portland was charged with several counts of first- and second-degree theft, first-degree criminal mischief, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, and providing false information to a police officer.

Early Friday morning, deputies got a call that a man had knocked on a door in the area, asking for help and saying he had been assaulted. The resident told authorities the man ran off when he called 9-1-1.

Half an hour later, another resident about two blocks from the first incident called to say he had found someone inside his car trying to steal his stereo. He told deputies when he confronted the person in his car, the alleged thief said he needed help and ran off.

Sheriff's deputies responded to the unincorporated area, which is part of an enhanced patrol district, with a search dog and attempted to find the suspect and help him if needed. They found two more car break-in victims.

At 5:35 a.m. they also found Favela-Martinez, who matched the suspect description, hiding in the blackberries, with a backpack with two stolen car stereos and a stolen laptop. Police said he was also wanted on felony warrant out of Multnomah County for cocaine possession.